For Carmen--A new beginning--A new journey: A milestone

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

A milestone

Here is Gail and Cynthia in the summer of 1982. You can also see Travis and Aaron in the back. Gail has that ever loving smile.
I actually hit a huge milestone yesterday. Gail's and my bedroom is almost half of the upstairs, in other words it is large. It has a high full length closet on the north and a low full length closet on the south. In length I would say that is 25+ feet of closet. Well Gail used much of the closet space for many many of her things, project items and I will not even begin to list any of the things stored there! Well yesterday I completely finished sorting, cleaning and putting the entire room in order. Little by little by little things have been leaving for various locations and yesterday it came to a conclusion. I am going to make one change in the dressers but that is it. No more stepping over things, no more boxes to unpack and it is a good feeling. Now that does not mean that ALL is in order up there. I did take some items and they are in the sun room but that will get in order soon so I am not worried. I should say that there are 2 boxes in the south closet that I need to sort through. I now have only one of Gail's dresses left. It is the dress that she and Lizzia had matching ones in Hawaii. There is NO good formula for going through personal items of a spouse. I mean everything from underwear to project items to things you usually do not talk about. I still have some tissue left from the second box but many many tissue were needed. There was such a temptation to save this or save that but really in the end I just knew that some things others could use and really why not? Then we all know that many things we have are not of use to anyone else so those things needed to be cleared also. The room is not totally void of Gail as there are things on the dresser tops that I need yet. I need to see them, I need to read them, I just plain need them and perhaps always will. However I know that the greatest treasures of Gail are in my heart forever and they can not break there, they can not fade, they can not get lost---they are like indelible ink on fine stationary-forever there.
I need to get a bite to eat and then I get to baby sit Audrey this morning. I am amazed that I am still alive. Each and every time I see those little granddaughters they steal my heart. It does not make any difference if it is that smile, that little tiny "nothing" butt or just that little hug on the leg they just are totally irresistible.

1 comment:

Connie said...: Wow, I miss the blog for a couple of days and I missed a lot. Congratulations on another beautiful, healthy, granddaughter. I know you will love her chubby cheeks as well as you do the rest of the grandchildren. Take a good whiff of that baby smell for me. It is irresistable.

At first I was so excited about you accomplishing the closest cleaning thing. That is MAJOR and you are right to feel great joy. I know for me I feel so much freedom when I am more free of "things." And being frugal, it is great consolation to know that others may use those things.

Now for perfect freedom in Christ!!; February 3, 2010 at 4:30 PM

Post a Comment

The first reading at Gail's funeral September 18, 2009

I know of no one who fit this better than Gail

Proverbs 31: 10-31
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm.
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously:
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her;
Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Well done good and faithful servant, your praise is much and your reward is to be with God forever.

Our Story

Our story begin in 1951, when Carmen was 4 and Gail was 5! We met as our parents were at a camera club. Fast forward--Carmen begin to attend grade school in town in 1957, the same school that Gail went to. Fast forward--We had our first date in the winter of 1964 in Gail's senior year of high school. Again--we were married June 1st of 1968. We moved to St. Paul in October of 1977 and lived at 2094 Niles Ave until Gail's death September 14 of 2009.
Gail first breast cancer was found in October of 2003. After surgery, chemo, radiation and infusions for a year she felt well and we lived life in our normal mode. Carmen retired in June of 2007 and shortly after that we quit doing the paper route as well. In the fall of 2007 we went on our dream vacation. We camped for 7 weeks in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia and in the New England states. Sleeping in our truck and eating over an open fire we felt that we had experienced heaven. Then in January of 2008 we spent 3 weeks in Hawaii with friends and again had so much fun. In the fall of 2008 we did much work on the outside of the house and we were so excited to enter 2009 with big plans and dreams. In January Gail was diagnosed with new cancer. For the next 7 1/2 months we prayed, changed our life style, laughed and cried often. As the end of Gail's life drew near she was peaceful and family cared for her at home until she met Jesus. It was a journey that was wonderful, exciting, blessed, full of life and full of love but of course it was too short. Gail is so missed but I know she is in a better place so my journey must continue on without my true love.
I enter a new decade as the "I" that I never wanted to be but I have hope. Hope of things not experienced and hope that life will again, in 2010, become something that I look forward to each morning. My hope is based on our Lord who gives all, who is all and who gives love to all who believe. I enter this new decade with so many questions and so few answers but with faith that all will be well.

For Carmen--A new beginning--A new journey

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

A milestone

1 comment:

The first reading at Gail's funeral September 18, 2009

Our Story

Followers

About Me